What are the aftereffects of Covid-19? Cognitive problems persist months later

New research has found that people who have been hospitalised with Covid-19 are likely to suffer from cognitive and behavioural problems for months after being discharged. Presented at the Congress of the on June 21, the study stressed on the importance of follow-up treatments.

Assessing parameters like memory, spatial awareness and processing problems as possible post-Covid features, the team linked higher severity of respiratory symptoms in the hospital to lower cognitive performance.

Among the study participants, one in five reported facing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). More than 50 per cent of all patients experienced cognitive disturbances, at least 16 per cent presented depressive symptoms as well as problems with working memory and information processing.

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Making matters worse, these cognitive and psychopathological problems were observed to be much worse in younger people under the age of 50.

Things, however, did look better over time as observation of the same cohort at 10 months from their infection, showed a reduction of cognitive troubles from 53 to 36 per cent, although PTSD and depressive symptoms still persisted.

Speaking at the Congress, Dr Elisa Canu from the study said while more research on Long Covid is needed, follow-ups and appropriate support are essential to alleviate symptoms.

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